Prevalence and predictors of birth preparedness and complication readiness in the Kassena-Nankana district of Ghana: an analytical cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

To assess birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPACR) and associated factors among mothers who had given birth in the past 12 months prior to the study.

DESIGN

An analytical cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The study was carried out in the rural areas of Kassena-Nankana district located in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

PARTICIPANTS

The study population comprised 600 postpartum women who had delivered within the last 12 months prior to the study.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

The primary outcome measure was BPACR.

RESULTS

The prevalence of BPACR among recently delivered women was very low as less than 15% were able to mention at least three of the five basic components of birth preparedness/complication readiness that were fulfilled. After adjustment for confounding effect using multivariable logistic regression analysis, high educational level (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.40 (95% CI: 1.88 to 6.15)), better knowledge about obstetric danger signs during pregnancy (AOR=4.88 (95% CI: 2.68 to 8.90)), older women (≥35 years) (AOR=2.59 (95% CI: 1.11 to 6.02)), women of low household wealth index (AOR=4.64 (95% CI: 1.97 to 10.91)) and women who received lower content of antenatal care services (AOR=3.34 (95% CI: 1.69 to 6.60)) were significant predictors of BPACR.

CONCLUSION

This study concludes that BPACR practices were low. High educational attainment of the woman, having adequate knowledge about obstetric danger signs during pregnancy, older women (≥35 years) and women of low household wealth index were significant predictors of BPACR. The predictors identified should be given high priority by health authorities in addressing low prevalence of BPACR.